Hollywood Owners Helping Wrexham On & Off The Pitch
When Hollywood duo Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney hit the news in February 2021 after they purchased Wrexham Football Club, it raised eyebrows in the football world. The first question was, what were their motivations for the non-league football club and the second, were they committed to their project?
After almost two years in charge of the Welsh club, it now looks clear that Wrexham are heading in the right direction under their new owners. Reynolds and McElhenney have laid out their ambitious plans in numerous interviews. Their goals do not just include success on the pitch, but they also want to help the community their football club sits in.
Due to their profile, the duo has attracted some big sponsors to their club. TikTok are their front-of-shirt sponsors, Expedia sit on the back of their shirts, while VistaPrint and Aviation American Gin are some of the other brands involved.
With the budget they set, Wrexham have been able to attract players from much higher in the football pyramid to join them. Their biggest signing so far was Paul Mullen in July 2021. He was the highest goalscorer in the 2020/21 League Two campaign. Following that successful season, he opted to join the National League club from Cambridge United.
In Reynolds and McElhenney’s first full season at the club, Wrexham failed to gain promotion to the Football League. They finished second in the final league table and were beaten in the play-offs by Grimsby Town.
Paul Mullin’s goal on Wednesday was our 50th league goal of the season, in our 18th game – the quickest we have reached that milestone since 1902/03!
More great stats 👉 https://t.co/PEPGIoJmnQ
🔴⚪ #WxmAFC | @m_griffiths92 pic.twitter.com/DFDqzZsF3W
— Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) November 11, 2022
Wrexham have made a positive start to the 2022/23 National League campaign. After 19 games of the season, they sat second, one point behind leaders Notts County. Promotion for the Welsh club this season would give them a big financial boost, as their income would significantly improve should they book their place in the Football League.
Duo Honoured for Promoting Wales
For their involvement in Wrexham Football Club, Reynolds and McElhenney have been handed the Dragon Award by the Welsh government. Through their ownership of the historic football club, they have helped to promote Wales and the Welsh language.
The pair received the award in New York at a special concert on Times Square which celebrated Wales and their relationship with the USA. It was organised ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup where Wales will face the United States in their opening game of the tournament. As of the 19th of November, Wales are 250/1 in the World Cup betting markets to lift the trophy in Qatar, which indicates they are one of the underdogs at the event.
Wales beat Ukraine to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958 🏴 pic.twitter.com/0P4ad83SJy
— GOAL (@goal) June 5, 2022
This year is the first time Wales will be playing at a World Cup since 1958. The tournament is one of the biggest sports events in the world. With Reynolds and McElhenney both promoting Welsh football in the UK and North America, there is optimism that the future will be very bright for both Wrexham and the national team.
Disney+ Documentary
Reynolds and McElhenney’s debut season involved in Wrexham has been documented in the Welcome to Wrexham series which is available to watch on Disney+ and FX in the United States.
The series, like all fly-on-the-wall sports documentaries, gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at how players prepare for matches, but also it showcases the business side of running a football club. It has been nominated for various awards as it has proved popular around the world.
It is clear from the docuseries that Reynolds and McElhenney are both hands-on owners. They appear involved in every aspect of the club, from the budget involved to designing the shirts.
Purchased Ground
One of the biggest challenges Reynolds and McElhenney found when they assessed the state of their club was that it did not own its ground. The pair put that right back in June by purchasing the Racecourse Ground.
Having control of their stadium means the pair can start renovation work, including on the Kop end which has been out of commission for over a decade. The owners have already commissioned work on what the new stand will look like, and they are hoping that they get the go-ahead for development to begin once the current season ends.
The future looks very bright for Wrexham under Reynolds and McElhenney. If the pair fulfil their ambition, it may not be long before they are just a step or two away from the Premier League.
